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Flea and Tick Medications Harming Tens of Thousands of Pets

by Luella May

Due to an alarming increase in
reports of injuries suffered by
pets in the past few years due
to the use of flea and tick
control products, the
Environmental Protection Agency
reported on March 17, 2010 that
they are planning to take
stricter measures in the
marketing of these products. The
pets affected are in the tens of
thousands. The EPA received
44,263 reports of harm suffered
by pets in 2008. This number of
these reports was a drastic
increase compared to 28,895 in
2007. Pet owners reported skin
irritations, burns, welts,
drooling, vomiting, seizures,
disorientation, neurological
problems, and death. It is
estimated that 600 of these
injuries resulted in death.

The EPA plans to develop
stricter testing methods,
together with assessing if
clearer usage instructions need
to be included on the labels.
Steve Owens, Assistant
Administrator of EPA's Office of
Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic
Substances, said that new
limitations will be placed on
flea and tick products, together
with possible product changes in
some of the product formulas.
Owens admitted the toxicity of
these products by stating,
"These are poisons. These are
products that are designed to
kill fleas and ticks - and they
do their jobs." He stated that
the EPA is committed to
protecting the safety and health
of families and their pets.
However, he warned that pet
owners must be careful and read
the labels, ensuring that they
follow precise instructions.
Some of the injuries have been
due to applying a product
designated for a dog to a cat
and vice-versa.

Georgia-based Merial Ltd., maker
of one of the leading tick and
flea treatments, defended its
product, disputing the EPA data.
The company stated that the vast
majority of the cases are minor
and that the number of adverse
events reported has remained
consistently low since the
product's introduction in 1996.

Over the counter flea and tick
medications come with their own
dangers. The Center for Public
Integrity, based in Washington,
D.C., released a report, the
Perils of the New Pesticides
(http://www.publicintegrity.org/investigations/pesticides),
that details the dangers of the
chemicals contained in those
products. The Center reported
that pyrethrins and pyrethroids
found in some of those products
were responsible for more
injuries found in any other
class of insecticide on the
market from 2003 to 2007. Dr.
Marty Becker who has a practice
in Idaho and resident
veterinarian for "Good Morning
America," stated that certain
breeds, such as rottweilers and
collies, are particularly
sensitive to any flea and tick
products.

Keeping a pet free from fleas
and ticks can be a huge concern.
However, one does not have to
rely on these toxic chemicals.
There are natural preventative
measures to keep your pet flea
and tick free.

Feeding a pet a raw diet is the
most effective method. Fleas and
ticks tend to live on unhealthy
pets with low immune systems.
Giving your pet the nutrition
nature intended without the
added fillers that commercial
pet foods contain goes a long
way in boosting that immune
system.

Other effective preventatives
include diatomaceous earth,
lavender oil, apple cider
vinegar (in a water bowl and in
a bath), brewer's yeast, and
fresh garlic in small
quanitities. (NOTE: Garlic is
toxic to cats).

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